THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRONIC BUSINESS IN SEAPORT MANAGEMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Due to the increase in efficiency, quality and competitiveness of port traffic services, greater flexibility and efficiency of operation in the port system and involvement in global economic trends, the use of e-business became the prerequisite for achieving growth and development of the seaport system. Management of seaports in the Republic of Croatia is somewhat rudimentary, often without theoretical and scientific support and methodological rules and principles of a systematic approach, and without practical application of the relevant factors of growth and development that affect not only the development of port systems and the entire Croatian maritime system, but also the development of the entire national economy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the possible impacts of e-business seaports applications to all active participants in the process of creating port services and to explore and analyze other effects on the development of local area and national economy. The proposed new organizational approach in connecting all port subjects through e-business in e-port community provides a rational system of seaport management, and is particularly effective for the realization of microeconomic and macroeconomic effects.